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Band Drama

#61
Muttleybass said:
So, even entertaining the idea of moving the date is taboo? I don't even have the right to ask? There's no compromise? Okay. Lesson learnt.
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An agreement is an agreement. If you wanted to negotiate an exception to the agreement, it should have been done with all affected before even doing any investigation with respect to changing the date. If I'm wrong, you wouldn't be experiencing the current drama.
 
#62
Munjibunga said:
An agreement is an agreement. If you wanted to negotiate an exception to the agreement, it should have been done with all affected before even doing any investigation with respect to changing the date. If I'm wrong, you wouldn't be experiencing the current drama.
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Or...tell the club owner that you have to check with the rest of the band before making any move.

Why would the club owner and guitar player talk?

I bet guitar called the club owner to tell him not to change the date if you call, but he already talked to you.
 
#63
as others have said:

You are the booker,so it is within your rights to ask the bar if a change was possible.

You DID agree to let band A take priority, that was a mistake but an understandable one.

The guitards response would be reasonable if A) HE was the band's booker, but he isnt't

and B) if it wasn't for the fact they use YOUR PA and YOUR truck.

You could have said, the PA and truck are to be used by band B, but I will play with band A, but you have to pay for and deliver the PA this time.

Music is meant to be fun, especially at the bar band level, where I am FIRMLY entrenched,happily hehe, time to ditch band A or at least the guitard in band A. Life's too short.

Reminds me of when I was in two bands, same drummer and 2nd guitarist, the only difference was the lead guitarist/singer/songwriter. For a while we did both bands but then it came time to move onto band B. So we did a combined farewell to band A/hello to band B gig. We only had to change lead guitarist/singer between sets hehe. Two completely different repertoires, Band A did stones/who covers and originals, band B did punk/ pre-grunge grungy originals, lol
 
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#65
I read the thread...just missed that. Didn't mean to offend you.

Still, that's a brain-dead club owner sending out a FB message to the band members when the OP was only asking if it were possible.

Also, if the OP books the gigs, what business does the club owner have contacting the other band members directly?

Does he usually contact all the band members for potential gig scheduling?

If so, then the OP doesn't seem to really be the one to "books the gigs." At least not in the club owners eyes.
 
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#67
I would have moved the gig for Band A since you book it, as long as the venue manager was agreeable. Then if the guitarists in Band A wants to continue to be an ass, address that issue. He was being ass to be an ass.
 
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#68
Gaolee said:
That's part of the Charles Mingus solution. The rest is to challenge another member of the band to a knife fight on stage. When the member in question doesn't have a knife (and neither do you), go across the street to the hardware store, buy two knives, bring them back, give one to the band member in question, THEN challenge him or her to a knife fight. That kind of thing ought to solve the problem, plus it a makes for good theater and good gig stories all around. I don't see a downside here.
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Wow. That's real jazz/blues talk there. It pains me to see how many people approach music as if it's just "a job," or something any old regular guy or gal can do. There was a time when musicians were known to be nuts, and they embraced it, and were proud of it.
 
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#70
I agree with the folks who say that a commitment is a commitment. With that said, you can always inform the band that you're changing your plans, and the other band is now your priority, but it's with the understanding that you might get replaced.

In my view, the upside to being good enough to be in demand from more than one band, is greater than the downside of risking that you will be replaced when you pass on a gig.
 
#71
If I have a date booked (even if I'm the booker) and I tell the other guys, and they put it on their calendar, then that date is set. That is the gig I'm playing even if something better comes along. I make sure I have subs in almost every position so if I'm not available in one band, someone can take over for me.

What is good for the goose, is good for the gander. For example, if I have a musician who agrees to a night, and then cancels on me because he got a better offer, then that musician goes to the bottom of my list of people to call. This is because he's putting me to too much work, and if it's last minute, risking the client and the gig. Some cats will say "if I give up your gig for a better offer, I will recommend someone to take my place". Even that is not good enough for me -- they have to FIND SOMEONE suitable.

My repertoire is dead simple so I can sub players easily. If you want to play in more than one band, you have to make it easy on the people in Band A, and Band B. Otherwise, you risk your position in both bands.
 
#75
Muttleybass said:
When we had our chat, he was pretty annoyed.
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If he had calmly thought about moving the gig and ultimately said no for decent reasons, would there be a problem? Instead of treating your request reasonably, he got hysterical.

Going forward, however you decide to interpret "prioritizing band A," let the guitarist know putting up with tantrums isn't part of that deal.
 
#76
Muttleybass said:
Yes, I do the booking. I didn't move the date, I only asked if it was possible. Step 1: Find out if it's even possible. Step 2: ask the band if it's okay. Step 3: if it's okay, change date. Perhaps I got steps 1 & 2 reversed, but if it wasn't possible, then I didn't want to bother the band. That was my thinking, anyway.

I wouldn't say I have ego problems, however you could be right about being frustrated with band A and not really being a fan of the guitarist. He has limited vision, only wants to play what HE wants to play, refuses to learn new stuff, and is pretty stubborn ...and refuses to sing. However, we've managed to get along as bandmates for the past 6 years (nothing is ever perfect I guess.. Wife says I'm never happy), he's a pretty incredible player, and people really seem to dig us. The people who hire us, anyway. It seems to be a really hard band to book. Too loud and too heavy.

You're right about the "Jealous Bitch" comment. I'm just frustrated and pissed he refuses to work with me.
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my son and I play in 2 projects together, we told them before we started , both projects , the band that has a show booked first takes the priority, for the last 2 years that has worked really well , and we have even booked both bands on to the same show case if we felt there was going to be a conflict , band A for us always pays better than band B, so to get band B on to a show bill with A has always been beneficial. but also in our favor, band B is in writing and recording mode right now so shows are not a real priority until we have the album done and we do a release , band A knows this , and when we release , band A also knows up front we will be playing a lot with B to promote and support the album
 
#77
This whole situation reminds me of a time I saw at a Chihuahua harassing a Rottweiler at a dog park. The Rottweiler took it for a while but eventually had enough and let the Chihuahua know in no uncertain terms that he was top dog in that park.

You did agree to give Band A priority but I'd say that you should have a meeting and let them know that beginning with any newly booked and confirmed gigs forward you'll operate on a first-come, first-served basis. Any complaint from the guitarist should be taken as evidence that he's jealous that he isn't in multiple bands or has designs on running the band himself. As long as you're providing the gigs, PA and rehearsal space you're got way more de facto say than he does.
 

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